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Barakat Announces squad for upcoming Olympic qualifiers

Palestine will look to recapture the form that helped them win their group at the 2014 Asian Games.

Olympic Team manager Abdel-Nasser Barakat announced a 24-man roster for upcoming qualifying tournaments. Asia has been awarded three berths for Rio 2016 with the three top finishers at the AFC U23 Championship punching their tickets to Brazil.

Palestine have been drawn against Saudi Arabia, Iran, Nepal, and Afghanistan in Group C. The second seed in the group, Iran, will host all group games set to take place from March 23-31.

Palestine kicks off proceedings against Afghanistan on the 23d before facing Saudi Arabia two days later. Al-Fida'i have a bye on the 27th before a crucial encounter against the hosts on the 29th before wrapping up group play against Nepal on the 31st.

The ten group winners alongside the five best runners up will join Qatar in qualifying for the AFC U23 Championship set to be held next January.

The side will face their South African counterparts in a friendly tuneup in Hebron (Saturday, March 14th, 4 PM).